Take a weekend day-trip from our Spanish school to ride the zip-line through the treetops down the side of Vulcán Mombacho near Granada. It's called a Canopy Tour-- where you go high up the side of a volcano in the chain of volcanoes spreading across Nicaragua.
On the ground, before you start they outfit you with an industrial climbing harness, a hardhat and a thick pair of gloves. Then they teach you how and when to use the gloves to slow yourself down by squeezing more or less on the overhead steel supporting cable, the zip-line.
It sounds scary while they are teaching you. Will you remember what to do? Not to worry, each person has their zip-line expert riding with them and controlling their speed if they should forget or
not do it right.
Next, you climb up a ladder attached to the side of a huge tree leading up to a solid wooden platform nestled in the branches of a tree in the heart of the forest canopy. Now on the platform, when you look down below into the steep forested space you instinctively hug tighter to the tree trunk and to the strong railing surrounding the platform on two sides as they clip your harness onto the steel ring planted firmly in the tree so you can't possibly fall.
I am a senior citizen and did not dare to go first but the pastor's courageous wife volunteered to be the first sacrifice to the non-existent mountain gods.
She flew away squealing with glee. "Wow, I'm next!" I shouted wildly. What a fantastic experience. My guide lifted me up and connected me to the cable and zip--off we flew down to the next of 18 platforms that stitch their way down the mountain through a variety of different species of trees and animals which I was oblivious to in my excitement.
Speed control is very important. If you go too fast you will slam into the upcoming tree, if too slow you will come to a stop before you get there. I was nervous and braked too much on one of the legs and came to a stop about 15 feet in front of the platform. My zip-line guide had to pull us hand over hand to the platform. It's seems funny that I didn't feel at all afraid dangling by a wire above the tops of trees more than 90 feet below.
If I wanted to see the marvels and beauties of the forest canopy I would have to ride it again another day when all the adrenalin was gone out of me.
It was a blast. You'll love to experience this for yourself when you come for classes.
http://www.spanishconversation.net/blog.html
On the ground, before you start they outfit you with an industrial climbing harness, a hardhat and a thick pair of gloves. Then they teach you how and when to use the gloves to slow yourself down by squeezing more or less on the overhead steel supporting cable, the zip-line.
It sounds scary while they are teaching you. Will you remember what to do? Not to worry, each person has their zip-line expert riding with them and controlling their speed if they should forget or
not do it right.
Next, you climb up a ladder attached to the side of a huge tree leading up to a solid wooden platform nestled in the branches of a tree in the heart of the forest canopy. Now on the platform, when you look down below into the steep forested space you instinctively hug tighter to the tree trunk and to the strong railing surrounding the platform on two sides as they clip your harness onto the steel ring planted firmly in the tree so you can't possibly fall.
I am a senior citizen and did not dare to go first but the pastor's courageous wife volunteered to be the first sacrifice to the non-existent mountain gods.
She flew away squealing with glee. "Wow, I'm next!" I shouted wildly. What a fantastic experience. My guide lifted me up and connected me to the cable and zip--off we flew down to the next of 18 platforms that stitch their way down the mountain through a variety of different species of trees and animals which I was oblivious to in my excitement.
Speed control is very important. If you go too fast you will slam into the upcoming tree, if too slow you will come to a stop before you get there. I was nervous and braked too much on one of the legs and came to a stop about 15 feet in front of the platform. My zip-line guide had to pull us hand over hand to the platform. It's seems funny that I didn't feel at all afraid dangling by a wire above the tops of trees more than 90 feet below.
If I wanted to see the marvels and beauties of the forest canopy I would have to ride it again another day when all the adrenalin was gone out of me.
It was a blast. You'll love to experience this for yourself when you come for classes.
http://www.spanishconversation.net/blog.html